PAPAR: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Secretary General Datuk Johnny Mositun advised the people not to be swayed by unfounded talk that Sabah was no longer a bastion of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.
He said such talk was common each time a general election neared but every time the BN would be returned with a healthy majority in the state assembly.
“There is so far no reason to think that Sabahans will reject the BN in the 14th General Election (GE14). Sure, there’s always talk about change and numerous demands about autonomy and state rights, but that is all in the normal process of living in a federal democracy like Malaysia,” Mositun, who is also a Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly, said after welcoming 60 new members into PBS at Kampung Kopimpinan here on Sunday.
Telling PBS members and leaders to be ready to face the general election which could be called anytime between now and the middle of next year, Mositun said anyone who believed that GE14 would see BN being defeated by a united opposition front was either naive or not well versed in political realities.
“That will not happen. And I can say for certain that despite all their talk, the opposition is not sincere about forming a united front to topple the Barisan National in GE14. This can be seen from the recent developments in the opposition camp with PCS led by Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Bumburing leaving the recently formed Gabungan chaired by Datuk Mohd Noor Mansnr. And it must be noted that Warisan, led by Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, has all along maintained its decision to go it alone in GE14. Based on such a scenario, can anybody still believe that the opposition can and will present a so-called united opposition front to engage BN in a one-on-one fight in GE14? Of course not. That will not happen,” he said.
Mositun said it was more likely that GE14 would see a record number of multi-cornered contests, not just three-cornered but probably four, five, six or even possibly more than ten-cornered fights in some constituencies if independents entered the fray.
“I believe BN will win GE14 comfortably. The opposition is lying when it says this time BN will be toppled. They are just confusing and enticing our people with false hope,” he said.
Mositun also said the opposition leaders in Sabah were frustrated people with political ambitions of their own, not dedicated or committed to serving the rakyat but only having individual, personal self-interest.
“They only want to become elected representatives, ADUN or MP as it may be, for personal advancement. We have seen this before. Win on an opposition ticket, then find some excuse to join BN later and collect the rewards. That’s all they are,” he said.
To illustrate his point Mositun mentioned the name of a well-known individual who had been going around canvassing support for the opposition around Papar, Kimanis, Bongawan and even Penampang.
“This individual at one time said he would contest against BN in Kimanis and gave hope to his supporters in Kimanis to campaign for him in GE14. Not long after that the same chap let it be known that he might contest in Bongawan where he expected strong support from the non-Muslim voters there. That made the pro-opposition voters there happy. After that, word got around that this same individual was mulling the idea of contesting in Kuala Penyu or Penampang/Moyog. And the latest we hear is he has been raising the possibility of contesting in one of the new 13 new constituencies, specifically Limbahau, if these are to be approved in time for GE14,” he said.
Mositun said it was clear that many political opportunists were taking advantage of the current economic situation and whipping up anti-federal and anti-BN sentiments for political mileage.
“This situation is perfect for these opportunists. They are also assuming that simply because the BN chairman and Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has been inclined to make concessions on things like greater state autonomy and devolution of federal powers, the BN government is weak and afraid. Let me tell you that this is not so. Do not mistake the BN’s sincerity and willingness to listen and correct matters as a weakness. The truth is just the opposite,” he said.
Mositun said people were easily swayed by the social media that was largely unfettered and free to criticize the government, but they should not take everything reported at face value.
He warned the people to be on guard against people who would do anything or join any party just to be nominated as candidates in GE14.
“They want to be candidates, but who do they want to serve? A sincere person would choose a seat to contest based on his desire to serve the people of that particular constituency, win or lose would not be the point. He would offer himself to the constituents he cares about. So please, I advice, judge for yourselves, evaluate carefully the sincerity of such people to serve you with commitment,” he said.
Mositun said the opposition ranks were full of the same type of people who have been changing parties like changing shirts, simply positioning themselves to be made candidates for GE14. Some, knowing they will not be nominated by their parties, get angry. Then to justify their actions, they cook up some fairy tales to discredit their old party and leave to join, form or “resuscitate” some obscure, dormant party just to be able to contest.
He cited the case of a former senior PBS leader who recently resigned from the party and took up the presidency of a long dormant and little known party.
“To this gentleman, with whom I have had a long association, I say good luck and go with no hard feelings. I only wish to remind him that it is not PBS that ditched him but it is he who has ditched PBS. It is up to the people to judge this individual in GE14 if he does contest a state or parliamentary seat,” he said.